On a strawberry patch there lived a little baby Worm. He was ever so small and didn't even remember how he got there. But he loved sweet things terribly, so he made himself a little house in a small strawberry. And life was so sweet there that every day he sang this little song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I've made a home for me. Now I live so sweetly, everything's going neatly.
The birds heard him and chirped back:
What peculiar habits these! Making houses out of strawberries! Better live beneath the bark, your house will be strong and smart.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
All the birdies envy me! Want a house from a strawberry!
The birds didn't argue with the silly little Worm and flew off about their business.
Summer went on, the strawberry grew, and the Worm's house became bigger. He was ever so pleased and sang his song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I've made a home for me. My sweet house is growing, more room it keeps showing!
The mice heard him and squeaked back:
What peculiar habits these! Making houses out of strawberries! Better live beneath the ground, your house will be warm and sound.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Nasty little mice so small! Want a strawberry house and all!
The mice didn't argue with the stubborn Little Worm and scurried off about their business.
Summer was ending, the strawberry lay on the patch large and ripe. And inside it lay a big rosy Worm, who had eaten his fill of his sweet house. He'd become so fat that he could barely turn round, but he kept on singing his song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I've made a home for me. I've got an enormous house, living sweetest as a mouse.
The beetles heard him and buzzed back:
What peculiar habits these! Making houses out of strawberries! Better live beneath a stone, you'll have a lovely home.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Listen to those bugs complain! Want a strawberry house, how plain!
The beetles didn't argue with the naughty Little Worm and crawled off about their business.
Autumn arrived. The rains began, and the strawberry went all soggy and fell apart. The Little Worm was left without a house. And because he'd eaten nothing but sweet things all summer, he'd become so fat that he could no longer make himself a strong house beneath the bark of a tree, or a warm home underground, or a safe one beneath a pebble.
The Little Worm realised that he would never, ever make himself a home in a strawberry again. And he also realised that he should have listened to his elders. Because they knew what would happen next. And they weren't being mean, but wanted to help. But he didn't know and didn't listen. He felt sad and cold, the Little Worm sighed and said:
Autumn has arrived. I wish I'd lived in a coconut instead.
